DETROIT, Michigan – Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) today announced that the scope of its comprehensive testing for EPA ’07 for its Series 60® includes specific testing for motorcoach and firetruck applications.

Detroit Diesel will launch a redeveloped heavy-duty Series 60 engine next year and is confident that its preparation efforts will ensure the engine meets the strict environmental standards established for 2007. The company’s confidence in being ready for EPA ’07 is rooted in its testing program, which began in August 2004 with the first 2007 prototype Series 60 running in a test cell at Redford. Although the majority of the testing conducted thus far has been with on-highway Class 8 trucks, the validation of performance, fuel economy, durability and reliability can be applied to the motorcoach and firetruck markets.

“Our test program for EPA ’07 is the most comprehensive in our history,” said Tim Tindall, Program Director for EPA ’07 for Detroit Diesel Corporation. “It sets the standards for the future quality of our engines. We’re learning a lot from testing with the Class 8 trucks and are applying what we learn to the engines we manufacture for the motorcoach and firetruck markets so that we bring robust and high quality products to these customers.”

Detroit Diesel’s testing program is comprised of various components, including: test cell dynamometers, reliability testing, durability testing, and an extensive customer demonstration program. In total, nearly 15 million test miles will be accumulated on the 2007 Series 60 before launch in 2007.

“The testing program enables Detroit Diesel to gain valuable test miles from both a component and systems perspective so that we may continue refining the engine well before the start of production ever begins,” explained Tindall. “We have established a comprehensive validation program specific to the motorcoach and firetruck market applications that includes summer testing and a customer demonstration program for select customers.”

Here is a brief description of each testing element and how it benefits engine development:

Performance Test Cell Dynamometers

Allow for a controlled environment and specific variable conditions by which to test the engine for emissions, control strategy optimization and fuel consumption development.

Durability Testing

Conducted to understand wear rates of major components; provides insight into components’ strength and design overall. Optimal for stress testing of the engine in such areas as overspeed, high temperatures, and high loads.

Vehicle Reliability Testing

Goal is to complete testing objective without failure of the engine and Aftertreatment System. Typically conducted in a test vehicle.

Customer Demonstration Program

Provides real-time, real-life application of the engine to see where refinements are needed in order to strengthen the product prior to launch. Strategic relationships/customers are selected in a highly cooperative and collaborative information sharing venture regarding the product. For both the motorcoach and firetruck markets, several OEMs will begin receiving fully functional customer demonstration units over the next few weeks.

“We’ve had positive feedback so far on the 12 vehicles we have running in the development program,” said Rich Shearing, Manager of On-Highway Heavy-Duty Application Engineering. “We are confident that we are going to bring a great product to market for our coach and firetruck customers.”

Detroit Diesel Corporation is a leading manufacturer of on-highway heavy-duty diesel engines for the commercial truck market. The company offers a complete line of engines from 170 to 515 horsepower for the on-highway and vocational markets. Through its corporate headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Diesel is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and service of these products, in addition to supporting alternative and hybrid engine strategies for the commercial truck marketplace. Detroit Diesel is a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler and part of the Freightliner group of companies.

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